Ardie Savea to quit All Blacks and become highest-paid player in the world

The 31-year-old loose forward, crowned World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year in 2023, is understood to be at the top of Racing 92’s shopping list. Reports from Australia claim the Parisian giants want to make him their marquee signing after the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

And the numbers being thrown around are eye-watering. Racing are said to be ready to make Savea the highest-paid player in rugby history, eclipsing even the mega-deals Dan Carter and Matt Giteau once commanded in Japan.

Born in Wellington of Samoan heritage, Savea was head prefect and 1st XV captain at Rongotai College before breaking through with the Hurricanes in 2013. Off the pitch, he is a family man — married to Saskia with three children — and runs a clothing line while advocating strongly for mental health awareness.

Savea is locked in with NZR until the end of 2027, with a confirmed sabbatical season in Japan at Kobe Steelers in 2026. That leaves the door wide open for Racing 92 to swoop in the following year with what could be the biggest pay-packet rugby has ever seen.

If the French giants get their way, the All Blacks’ talisman could soon follow in the footsteps of Carter — but on an even bigger stage, and for an even bigger pay-cheque.

Juan Martin Gonzalez and Gonzalo Garcia scored tries either side of the break for Argentina, while Santiago Carreras kicked 13 crucial points from the tee.

Billy Proctor, Fletcher Newell and Samisoni Taukei'aho crossed for New Zealand, but an ill-disciplined display cost them dearly, with three yellow cards — including two in the space of three minutes — halting their momentum.

Damian McKenzie’s last-minute penalty at least salvaged a losing bonus point, keeping the All Blacks top of the Rugby Championship table with six points from two games.

Still, the performance left plenty of questions. Here are five All Blacks who flopped in Buenos Aires — and who could be in danger of losing their places.

Rugby Pass gave him a 5/10, noting: "Put in a weird left foot chip kick in the middle of nowhere, and had a very quiet first half for his standards. Carried hard to try and get the All Blacks over the gain line. Didn’t drop the intensity late in the game, but it wasn’t Barrett’s most fluid and groundbreaking performance."

Stuff were far more damning with a 3/10: "Awful chip kick early in the piece set the tone. Another to be pinged for a deliberate knock on, while missed a game-high five tackles and wasn’t able to put his aerial or boot strengths to good use."

A night to forget for the fullback, whose usual authority never surfaced.

Planet Rugby scored him a 3/10: "Suspect defensively with some rather average reads, and the Pumas capitalised. Not compelling under the high ball either. Anonymous on attack, even though the All Blacks didn’t have the lion’s share of possession while he was on the park. For an 84 Test cap international, he should be doing a lot better."

Rugby Pass gave him 4/10: "Looked lost on the wing early after an Argentian midfield bomb, and continued to not pose any threat with ball in hand. Had one opportunity, but couldn’t finish with three Argentinian players getting across to put pressure on. Couple of missed tackles that led to the home side breaking the defensive line."

Stuff also rated him 3/10: "Sent into space to nearly score game’s first try, but that was really it, unable to pounce on a loose ball and found wanting out wide on defence as wing transition continues to raise issues."

Once again, Ioane’s positional shift exposed flaws in his game, leaving fans and pundits questioning his best role in the team.

Planet Rugby handed Reece a 3/10: "Much like his fellow winger, Reece had some poor reads on defence and didn’t fare much better with the ball in hand. He wasted an opportunity after the hour mark with an unkind pass to Rieko Ioane and was manhandled into touch soon after. He crucially was able to manufacture a lineout for his team from being tackled out and Samisoni Taukei’aho scored. Managed to undo his great work with a poor intercept pass attempt that resulted in a yellow card."

Rugby Pass were kinder with a 5/10: "Might not have been Sevu’s best night with ball in hand, but the right winger managed to move some bodies at the breakdown and play halfback when Ratima or Christie were occupied. Great clearing kick when the All Blacks were down to 13 players on the stroke of halftime. Quiet second half until Reece stuck a hand out on defence, where referee Nic Berry deemed it to be an intentional knockdown."

Stuff rated him 3/10: "Two-try effort last week seemed a distant memory as struggled to make any inroads out wide, as well as being caught out defensively and with hands. Silly yellow card for deliberate knock on with game on the line in 73rd minute."

From hero last week to liability this week, Reece’s indiscipline and errors compounded New Zealand’s woes.

Planet Rugby gave him a 4/10: "He lasted just 18 minutes before being forced off because of a painful-looking injury after an awkward collision with Julian Montoya. During his time on the pitch, the All Blacks struggled to really fire the attack."

Rugby Pass rated him 5/10: "A couple of early Ratima box kicks went past the chasing All Blacks players, and was on the end of an average pass from Tupou Vaa’i from the base of the maul which was dropped in midfield. Made a brilliant covering tackle after an Argentina break, before being replaced in the 18th minute for what looked like a sternum injury."

It was a short-lived outing for the young scrum-half, who couldn’t make an impact before injury struck.

Stuff rated him 4/10: "Started with a couple of poor passes which stifled attacks, before nice shortside post-lineout play to set up first try. Couldn’t assert himself at ruck time like last week, slipped off four tackles, and sin-binned (harshly) for deliberate knock down."

Planet Rugby also gave him 4/10: "Less imposing than he has been in recent times and far less busy defensively than his fellow back-rowers. He also spent 10 minutes in the sin bin. Too slow to react to Pablo Matera’s carry for Gonzalo Garcia’s try. The first setback in his transition into a genuine option as a blindside flanker, it will be interesting to see how he responds."

Rugby Pass rated him slightly higher at 5.5/10: "The big Chiefs loose forward was yellow carded for an intentional knock down in the 32nd minute, and didn’t really impose himself with ball in hand with only two carries in the first half. An important lineout malfunction late in the Test match and his yellow card didn’t help the 41-Test lock’s rating."

A frustrating game from Vaa’i, who struggled to impose himself physically and was hampered by costly errors.

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